Dark Dreams (COMPLETED)

Lies

I stared at my bedroom ceiling, moving my feet frantically. Between lessons and homework, the days had passed quickly and, in a blink of an eye, it was already Saturday!

In Goldmist, October 6, the anniversary of its founding, was a holiday. This meant that, as I didn't have to go to school, I had more time to plan how I would go to the Elite Party.

It was already noon and, looking down at my duck pajamas, I realized that it would be a difficult undertaking, but as I had promised myself several times, I would do anything to be admitted to Silver Wings. I rolled over, finding myself on my stomach with my head resting on my hands. I wondered if they would accept me more easily if they believed I was one of them. Of course, there would be many kids from my high school there, but with a bit of makeup and skill, I would manage to escape their hateful looks. And then it was a masquerade party, so I would definitely go unnoticed.

I might be able to make a friend or, even better, meet the boy of my dreams. My lower limbs began to cross like a dance.

But what was I thinking?

Everyone knew that boys weren't interested in a girl like me and, even if there was one insane enough to find me interesting, he would never accept the harsh rules imposed by my family. Although, to be honest, it would be really romantic to meet a boy during a party and fall in love with him at first sight while the stars shone high in the sky, aware of the birth of a new love.

Knock knock.

"Sarah, where did you put your Winnie the Pooh socks? I can't find them and I'm loading the washing machine," my mother said, coming in.

"Mom, explain to me what the point of knocking is if you enter without even waiting for me to tell you that you can come in?" I yelled, trying to hide the redness that had invaded my cheeks.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked, approaching the foot of the bed.

She was worse than a trained dog at sniffing out lies. And then she had an evil sixth sense that allowed her to understand when I was thinking about people of the opposite sex.

"No, there is absolutely nothing wrong," I said, sitting down. "Everything's fine. Actually, what am I saying? Everything's great. Yeah, incredibly awesome." I promised myself that from that day on I would practice telling lies in front of the mirror.

"My darling duck," she said, sitting down close to me, "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

"Yes," I replied.

It wasn't true, but it wasn't a lie, since it was obvious that I was restless about what would happen the following day.

"Last year the visit to your father's grave didn't go very well," she sighed.

"Mom, it was the first time that we went back to Blueshore, after a year in this city," I said, looking down. "You can't have expected me to jump for joy."

"And how do you feel about tomorrow? It will be a long journey and you'll have to face childhood memories and your difficulty accepting..."

"I have accepted Dad's death," I said, clenching my fists.

"We have set aside enough savings in The Love Jar over the year," she said, placing her hand on my shoulder. "This time we can buy some beautiful flowers."

I smiled weakly. I told myself that it was a good time to start a conversation about a hypothetical party. And in fact, I would have talked about anything to avoid talking about the anniversary of Dad's death.

"Mom..." I said, taking a deep breath.

"Yes?" she asked, worried.

I didn't know how to deal with the discussion. When we were in my hometown, my mother let me go out in the evening with Maya, but Blueshore was a small town, nothing like sinful Goldmist.

"If I, hypothetically, told you that I could, still hypothetically, be invited to a party with boys... and girls, especially girls, what would you say?" I asked in a single breath.

"I'd say that my little duckling would never, ever be allowed to hang out with those wicked young people!" she screamed, waving her hands around.

"What... what are you talking about?" I asked, acting dumb. I was more than aware of the rumors that circled around them.

"Sarah, we've already had this conversation several times. I know you want to make some friends and I have no problem with you going you out with a girl, as long as her parents are willing to meet me, but parties are out of the question. You'll meet some of those boys there and they only want one thing from you," she said with an inquisitorial look.

"But Mom..."

"You know your father is watching you, right?"

I fearfully raised my eyes to heaven.

"You promised your father you'd wait for marriage to, well... what we don't speak about. Remember that God is also listening to us and above all, he's watching you."

I looked around terrified, imagining God and my father intent on spying on me.

"But you can't keep me locked up like a prisoner!" I said, grimacing.

"Of course I can," she said, smiling, "I'm your mother."

"Mom, I'm serious," I fought, crossing my arms.

"Me too. I beg you to go out, but only in the afternoon and with girls whose name, phone number and address I know," she said with a strict expression.

"I thought you trusted me!" I exclaimed, having visibly lost my temper.

"But I do trust you," she said, astonished. "It's some guys I don't trust. Take, for example, that Dickson Reynolds; I shudder at the mere thought of what they say about him."

There was no way I'd convince her to let me go to the party, especially since Dark Oaks was the Reynolds family's estate. My only chance was to tell her what Odette had said, but I didn't want to ruin our trip the following day.

Then I had a flash of inspiration.

That afternoon she would go out at five pm for her Grill & Chips shift, where she also worked as a waitress. The place closed at five am on Saturdays, at six on public holidays. I would have all the time in the world to buy a costume, make some friends and get home before my mother.

"You're right, Mom," I said, nodding untruthfully.

"Good, my child," she said, standing up. "Trust me, you're not missing anything. Boys only lead to tears and complications."

I made a vague gesture of agreement.

She left the room, gently closing the door behind her.

I threw myself on the bed and let out a sigh of relief. I closed my eyes, imagining the best party of my life.

Would you lie if you were Sarah?

Or do you think that lies are never good, even if it's for a good cause?

Let me know your opinions!

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